Coiled strip



April 2, 1968 Original Fi led Feb. 3, 1964 FIG J. J. HIEGEL 3,376,120

COILED STRIP 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORTX"? JOSEPH J. HIEGEL ATTORNEYSApril 2, 1968 J. J. HIEGEL. 3,376,120

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COILED STRIP 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Feb. 5, 1964 96 INVENTOR.JOSEPH J. HIEGEL FIG. 7

ATTORNEYS J. J. HIEGEL 3,376,120

COILED STRIP April 2, 1958 Original Filed Feb. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5FIG. 8

INVENTOR. JOSEPH J. HIEGEL BY M 7% Z 8% ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,376,120 COILED STRIP Joseph J. Hiegel, Salem, Ohio, assignor to E. W.Bliss Company, Canton, Ghio, a corporation of Delaware Originalapplication Feb. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 341,876, now

Patent N 3,332,268, dated July 25, 1967. Divided and this applicationOct. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 608,468

Claims. (Cl. 29-193) This is a division of my copending application,Ser. No. 341,876, filed Feb. 3, 1964, now Patent No. 3,332,268.

This invention pertains to the art of preforming coiled strip forfeeding into a rolling mill stand preparatory to a rolling operation.

The invention particularly pertains to preparation of the lead end ofcoiled metal strip which preparation materially improves the ability ofthe lead end of the strip to make starting engagement between the workrolls of a mill stand, although it will be appreciated that theinvention may also be used in preparing other forms of coiled strip andthe like.

One of the daily problems encountered in the operation of a rolling millis that of feeding the lead end portion of the metal strip into the millfor re-rolling. The problem resides in the inherent tendency of anunsupported lead end of strip to curl downwardly under its own weight. Asimple demonstration may be made by holding an elongated strip of paperat one end; whereupon it will be observed that the paper curlsdownwardly for lack of support.

Heretofore workmen have been utilized to hold or support the lead endportion of a coiled metal strip in order to thread the strip into themill. In some instances mechanical entry sticker guides have been alsoutilized to guide the lead portion into the mill, but such techniquesare expensive since the guides must be adapted for various widths andgauges of the strip.

The present invention is directed toward an apparatus and method forforming the lead end portion of a coiled strip in a novel manner so thatthe strip may be easily threaded into a rolling mill without requiringthe assistance of workmen and/ or mechanical guides.

In accordance with this invention at least one longitudinally extendingrib is formed intermediate the coil and the front edge margin of thecoil leading end. In this manner the lead end portion of the coil willbe stiffened sufficiently to be self-supporting and it will therefore beenabled to extend outwardly from the coil in cantilever fashionsufficient to provide substantially self-guiding entry into the mill.The number of ribs required will, of course, be a function of the widthof the strip.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an apparatusis provided for forming at least one longitudinally extending rib in thelead end portion of a coil of such gentle configuration that when thestrip is subsequently re-rolled the rib will also be re-rolled into thestrip without strip deformation.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus andmethod for forming the lead end portion of a coiled strip in a novelmanner so that the strip may be easily threaded into a rolling mill.

Another object of the present invention is to form at least onelongitudinally extending rib along a portion of the length of the leadend portion of a coiled strip so that the lead end portion will berendered self-supporting for substantially self-entry into a rollingmill.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of anovel coil of strip having a self-supporting lead end thereof, which ispositionable for self-guiding entry into a mill stand.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following de- Patented Apr. 2, 1968 scriptionused to illustrate the preferred emdodiments of the invention as read inconnection with the accompanyings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a coiled steel strip having a lead endportion thereof formed according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a left side elevational view of an apparatus according tothe present invention for forming the lead end portion of the coiledstrip shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE2;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view partly in section of the apparatusshown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view partly in section similar to thatillustrated in FIGURE 3, and illustrating the end strip portion beingfed into the coil preparation machine;

FIGURE 7 is similar to that as shown in FIGURE 6, but illustrating thestatus of the strip and machine after having just cropped the end of thelead end portion of the strip;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view similar to that as shown in FIGURE6, but illustrating the status of the strip and machine when the topforming roll frame is retracted;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along 9-9 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 1, 9 and10, there is illustrated an elongated steel strip 10 which has beenpreviously formed, as by rolling, with relatively uniform thickness andwidth throughout its length. The strip 10 is spirally coiled upon itselffor a substantial portion of its length to define a coil 11. Theremaining length of strip 10 defines a lead end portion 12 terminatinngin a transverse edge 16.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of longitudinally extending andparallelly aligned ribs 14 are provided in lead end portion 12. The ribs14 protrude outwardly predominantly from the same side of the strip 10relative to coil portion 12, as shown in FIGURE 9. Ribs 14 extend for alength L from margin M to a line of tangency T of coil 11. The lead endportion 12, due to the stiffening or supporting effect of the ribs 14,extends in a cantilever fashion from the coil portion 11 in aself-supporting manner and will not curl downwardly under its ownweight. In this manner, portion 12 exhibits sufiicient structuralrigidity that when the strip is transported to a rolling mill the leadend portion will provide substantially self-guiding entry into the millwithout the use of workmen or mechanical guides. Thereafter, theunribbed portion for the marginal distance M adjacent the free edge 16which is flat, facilitates threading of the strip into the mill.Further, the ribs 14 are formed with arcuate cross section ofsubstantially equal radius, which radius is such that the rib contoursare rendered sufficiently gentle that they may be rolled into a fiatsurface.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 through 5, there is illustrated a coilpreparation machine 20 for forming longitudinal ribs 14 in the lead endportion 12 of a coiled steel strip 10. The coil preparation machine 20includes a lower forming roll support frame 24 and a triangular shapedupper forming roll frame 26, pivotally mounted to frame 24 at is bottomleft corner, as viewed in FIGURE 3, by means of a pivot post 28. Theupper frame 26 may be pivoted between a rib forming position, as shownin FIG- URE 4, to a fully retnacted position, as shown by the dottedlines in FIGURE 2, by appropriate power means such as a solenoidoperated hydraulic cylinder 30. The cylinder 30 is pivotally mounted atone end to the frame 24 by means of trunnion 32 and at the other end tothe apex of the triangular shaped frame 26 by means of another trunnion34.

The triangular shaped upper frame 26 serves to rotatably support theends of an upper forming roll 36 by means of suitable bearings 38 and40. Similarly, the lower frame 24 serves to rotatably support a lowerforming roll 42 at its opposite ends by means of suitable bearings 44and 46. A motor 48 is drivingly connected to one end of roll 42 in asuitable manner so that roll 42 may also serve a driven roll.

Forming roll 36 takes the form of a cylindrical shaft 50 having aplurality of annular rib forming tires 52 of arcuate cross sectioncoaxially mounted thereon and spaced from each other by means ofcylindrical spacers 54 as shown in FIGURE 4, of smaller externaldiameter than that of tires 52. Similarly, forming roll 42 takes theform of a cylindrical shaft 56 having a plurality of annular rib formingtires 58 coaxially mounted thereon and axially spaced from each other bymeans of cylindrical spacers 60 and 61 of smaller external diametersthan that of tires 58. The spacers 61 immediately adjacent opposingsides of each tire 58 are recessed relative to the remaining spacers 60on shaft 56 so as to form annular channels 62 and 64 adjacent oppositesides of each tire 58. The number of tires 52 on shaft 50 is double thatof the number of tires 58 on shaft 56 so that two adjacent tires 52 maybe associated with each tire 58 for purposes of forming the ribs 14 instrip 10. The tires 52 associated with each tire 58 are axially spacedapart sufficient that they axially straddle the associated tire 58 andare received in channels 62 and 64, respectively, which are each of awidth somewhat greater than the width of each tire 52. The tires 52 and58 are preferably constructed so that their peripheral cross sectionalcontours are arcuate and are the same radius to form gentle convolutionsor ribs 14.

The definition of the ribs 14 formed in steel strip may be controlled bymeans of adjustable plungers or jacks 66 and 68 mounted on the extendingfrom opposite ends of upper frame 26. During the rib forming operationsthe free ends of jacks 66 and 68 extend downwardly and rest on supportpads 70 and 72, respectively, provided on opposite ends of the lowerframe 24, as best shown in FIGURE 4. The adjustable jacks 66 and 68 areboth mechanically interconnected with a hand operated crank wheel 74,which serves to adjust both of the jacks simultaneously and therebyadjust the penetration of tire 58 between tires 52. In this manner thegentleness of the convolutions or ribs 14 may be regulated.

As will be described with more particularity hereinafter, the machine 20forms ribs 14 in strip 10 as the strip is being retracted from themachine rather than when entering so that the free end of strip 10 maybe sheared prior to the formation of ribs 14. Accordingly, it isdesirable during the period the strip is entering the machine, i.e.,between forming rolls 36 and 42, that the upper roll 36 be adjustedrelative to the bottom roll 42 so that the tires 52 do not penetrateinto channels 62 and 64. For this purpose, a pair of hydraulic operatedjacks 76 and 78 are provided at opposite ends of the lower frame 24,each having a plunger 80 extending vertically upward therefrom so thatits free end engages a pad 32 provided in a recess 84 in thecorresponding end of upper frame 26. The length of each plunger 80 ispreferably such that when the plungers are extended, as shown in FIGURES2 and 3, the peripheries of tires 52 and 58 are essentially intangential relationship, but may be vertically spaced from each other bya slight amount substantially the thickness of strip 10. In this manner,as strip 10 is being fed into the machine 20 between forming rolls 36and 42, the tires 52 and 58 do not serve to form ribs in the strip, butto respectively drive and guide the strip into the machine.

The machine 20 is provided with a coil unwrapping or peeling knife 90,which is adjustably mounted on the frame 24 by means of a pair ofhydraulic cylinders 92 and 94 so that the knife may be adjusted forcoils of different diameters. The coil portion 11 of the strip 10 may bepositioned relative to the machine 20 by means of a pair of positioningrolls 94 and 96 and held in place by means of a hold down roll 98. Thepositioning rolls 94 and 96 are suitably driven so as to rotate coilportion 11 about its coil axis so that the lead end portion 12 thereofmay be peeled from the coil by means of knife 90 and driven into themachine 20 between rolls 36 and 42.

The machine 20 is also provided with a pair of straight edge shearingknife blades 100 and 102. mounted on frame 24 for purposes of croppingor shearing the lead end of portion 12 so as to obtain a straight edge16 at the free end of lead portion 12, which edge is perpendicular ofthe longitudinal side edges of strip 10. The shearing knife blade isstationary and shearing knife blade 102 is vertically movable withrespect to blade 100. Blade 100 is suitably powered -'by means of ahydraulic cylinder 104 mounted on frame 24. A chute 103 is mounted onframe 24 below knife blades 100 and 102 to facilitate removal of thecropped section from strip 10.

Intermediate the shearing knife blades 102 and 100 and the forming rolls36 and 42 there is provided an L-shaped limit trip switch arm 106pivotally mounted at one end to the frame 24 by means of a pivot post107. Switch arm 106 is counterbalanced so as to normally be located inthe path of the lead end portion 12. of strip 10, as shown in FIG- URE3. The switch arm 106 serves when the free end 16 of lead end portion12, after having been cropped by knife blades 100 and 102, is beingretracted from machine .20 to pivot in a clockwise direction about post107, as viewed in FIGURE 3, to open a normally closed switch 108, asshown in FIGURE 5. This de-energizes the solenoid controlled hydrauliccylinder 30 via interconnecting conductors 109 and 111 to the positionshown by the dotted dines in FIGURE 2.

Interposed between the switch arm 106 and the forming rolls 36 and 42there is provided a stripper finger which is vertically movable forpurposes of facilitating retraction of lead end portion 12 of strip 10in the event that a portion there is caught or struck in the machine,such as to roll 42. The stripper finger 110 is powered by suitable meanssuch as a fluid cylinder 112 mounted on frame 24.

Referring now in particular to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, there is illustratedthe method of forming ribs 14 in the lead end portion 12 of strip 10.The coiled portion 11 of steel strip 10 to be formed with ribs 14 isplaced on positioning rolls 94 and 96 and held in place by means of ahold down roll 98. The peeling knife 90 is then adjusted relative to themachine 20, as well as to the coiled portion 11, by means of hydrauliccylinders or jacks 92 and 94 so that the knife portion 90 serves tostrip or uncoil the lead end portion 12 of strip 10. With the fluidcontrolled adjustment jack 76 energized so that plungers 80 areextended, the solenoid operated fluid cylinder 30 is energized wherebythe upper frame 26 takes the position as.

shown by the solid lines in FIGURE 2. The machine 20 is then ready toreceive the lead end portion 12 of strip 10.

The rolls 94 and 96 are driven so as to rot-ate coil portion 11 in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG- URE 3, driving the leadend portion 12 into the machine between rolls 36 and 42 until theuncropped end of the lead end portion is just beyond the shearing knifeblades 102 and 100. At this point the operator will stop the drivenrolls and energize fluid cylinder 104 for a sufiicient time to causeshearing knife blade 102 to plunge downwardly shearing or cropping aportion of the length of strip 10. The cropped portion falls downwardlyunder the force of gravity and by means of chute 103 may be conveyed toa suitable scrap pile. The lead end portion 12 is at this timesubstantially flat with a straight edge 16 defined at its free end.

The adjustment jacks 76 are then de-energized causing plungers 80 toretract whereby the adjustable jacks 66 and 68 rest on pads 70 and 72,respectively, and tires 52 penetrate into the channels 62 and 64 by apredetermined amount as adjusted by means of adjustment crank 74. Thedriven rolls 94, 96 and 36 are then operated to retract the steel stripfrom machine 20, i.e., the coil portion 11 is rotated in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8. As the lead end portion 12is being retracted the rib forming tires 52 and 58 cooperate to formribs 14 in the lead end portion 12, extending longitudinally of thestrip and of substantially identical formation. As the cropped edge 16of strip 10 passes over the switch arm 106, corresponding to apredetermined rib length L, the arm pivots in a clockwise directionabout its pivot axis 107, as viewed in FIGURE 8, whereby the normallyclosed switch 108 is opened de-e-nergizing the solenoid controlled fluidcylinder 30. This will retract upper frame 26, which pivots in acounterclockwise direction about its pivot shaft 28, as viewed in FIGURE8, to its retracted position. Retraction of frame 26 and hence offorming roll 36 leaves the lead end 12 of strip 10 without any ribs forthe distance M adjacent edge 16, which distance is dictated by thespaced relationship of switch arm 106 and the forming rolls, as well asthe retraction velocity of strip 10 past the rolls. In this manner arelatively flat end portion for distance M is obtained, facilitatingthreading of strip 10 into a rolling mill. If :the operator observesthat the end portion 12 of strip 10 is having difliculty in beingreleased from roll 42, the stripper finger control cylinder 112 may beenergized, displacing stripper finger 110 vertically upward to theposition shown by the dotted lines in FIG- URE 8, thereby ejecting leadend portion 12 from the lower roll 36. The hold down roll 98 is thenretracted while the driven rolls 94 and 96 continue to rotate the coilportion 11 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG- URE 8, until thelead end portion 12 of strip 10 pivots upwardly in a clockwise directionto the position shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE 8. Thereafter, thecoiled strip 10 with the ribs 14 formed thereon may be transported bysuitable conveying means to a rolling mill for re-rolling.

It is appreciated that the invention has been disclosed in connectionwith preferred embodiments and that various structural methods and otherchanges may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of manufacture comprising an elongated member, a portionof the length of said member being spirally coiled upon itself from oneend thereof, the remaining length of said member defining a lead endportion having at least one rib extending longitudinally thereof for aportion of the length of said end portion, whereby said lead end portionextends in cantilever self-supporting fashion from said coiled portion.

2. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 1, including aplurality of said ribs spaced transversely of each other relative to thewidth of said member.

3. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidplurality of ribs are of equal length and extend from a transverse lineon said member tangential to said coiled portion to a transverse line onsaid lead end portion spaced from and parallel to the free end of saidlead end portion.

4. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 3, wherein said ribsare substantially identically formed by rolling means and projectoutwardly from said member relative to said coiled portion.

5. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 4, wherein said ribsare formed with arcuate cross section of substantially the same radius,said radius being such that the contour of said ribs is sufficientlygentle that said ribs may be re-rolled into a flat surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,038,278 4/1936 Gibbs 29-l932,159,002 5/1939 Ashmore 29193 2,260,397 10/1941 Otte 29193 2,418,7584/1947 Cooper 29193 DAVID L. RECK, Primary Examiner. RICHARD O. DEAN,Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER, A PORTIONOF THE LENGTH OF SAID MEMBER BEING SPIRALLY COILED UPON ITSELF FROM ONEEND THEREOF, THE REMAINING LENGTH OF SAID MEMBER DEFINING A LEAD ENDPORTION HAVING AT LEAST ONE RIB EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THERE-